The grain silos at Beirut port were destroyed by the Aug. 4, 2020 explosion. (Credit: Zeina Antonios)
BEIRUT— Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh received a letter from the head of the investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion Judge Tarek Bitar via the Justice Ministry, which notes that “there is no longer a need to preserve what remains of the [Beirut port] silos, in light of the advanced stage of the forensic investigation,” Hamieh’s office told L’Orient Today.
Here’s what we know:
• Hamieh’s statement comes days after Economy Minister Amin Salam said he would not take a decision to demolish the silos, awaiting a competent judicial ruling authorizing the demolition.
• Last month, Salam said in a press conference that the government intends to tear down the silos and construct new ones in a different area.
• The Beirut Urban Declaration initiative started a petition three weeks ago calling on the government not to proceed with a plan to demolish the silos. Families of the port victims have also protested against such a decision.